Human Impact on the Earth Our Biosphere Sustainability of humans How do humans affect the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere Abiotic and biotic factors in different biomes What is biodiversity and why is it important? Alternative energy for NC Conventional vs sustainable agriculture and aquaculture and there environmental impact What effect does uncontrolled population growth have on the Earth’s resources Reduce, reuse and recycle-why is it so important?

Human Impact Lithosphere How Have We Affected Earth's Lithosphere? Humans have changed the face of the Earth more than any other species, and the pace of change is increasing. 80 percent of Earth's surface (lithosphere) has been marked by human activity… Deforestation Urbanization Agriculture Mining Drilling Overgrazing,

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. An estimated 18 million acres of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Mar 4, 2015 Urbanization is the increasing number of people that migrate from rural to urban areas

Agriculture is the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products. Mining is the process of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine. Drilling for Oil and Natural Gas-Oil and Natural Gas are nonrenewable resources that will eventually run out. People drill for them for many uses. Overgrazing is the removal of excessive amounts of plant growth by animals in one area.

Cause and Effect Deforestation Cause: Forests are cut down for many reasons, but most of them are related to money or to people's need to provide for their family. Effect: Deforestation causes damage to land, soil erosion, and destroys wildlife habitats.

Cause and Effect Urbanization Cause: people farmers moving from villages & small towns to cities to find higher paying jobs and more opportunities Effect: Causes over population, more pollution, and can result in very high levels of erosion and sedimentation Effect: It can take up a lot of space, the uses of chemical pesticides, and fertilizers can contaminate soil and affect soil fertility, and can strip the vitamins from soil.

Cause and Effect Agriculture Cause: it can be caused by having too many animals on the farm or by not properly controlling areas. Effect: increases erosion and strips away topsoil, resulting in no plants able to grow.

Cause and Effect Mining Cause: People mine to earn money, and use the materials for many different uses Effect: Mining causes environmental damage such as –Disruption of the land surface –Ugly piles of waste left behind –Wildlife habitat is lost –The natural ecosystem is disrupted –Land erosion and landslides, sinkholes, cave ins --Toxic substances left behind can pollute air and water

Cause and Effect Drilling Cause: To earn money, and to get needed resources such as gas, to use in cars for fuel Effect: Drilling can cause the lithosphere to be disturbed. It can cause earthquakes. Soil and groundwater can be contaminated

Cause and effect Overgrazing Cause: When Range animals are allowed to graze on the same land until the damage is irreversible. Effect: When an area is overgrazed, much of the grass is destroyed and the fibrous root systems decay. The land may become so degraded that it can never recover. This is called desertification. Desertification converts rangeland to wasteland

How Have We Affected Earth's Hydrosphere The activities of modern society are having a severe impact on the hydrologic cycle. The water cycle is being disturbed by: Eutrophication Acid rain Buildup of greenhouse gases

Eutrophication Eutrophication happens when excess nutrients and organic matter from sewage, agriculture, and industry enter a fresh or marine water system. Effects: low oxygen concentrations Overgrowth of algal blooms Death of living plants and animals

Acid Rain When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the atmosphere. These chemical gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. Effects: Makes waters acidic Causes water to absorb aluminum making the water toxic Changes in soil pH, making it harder for trees to soak up water Make it harder for trees and other plants to withstand disease, insect damage and temperature changes.

Build up of greenhouse gasses The increase of CO2 in the atmosphere raises the temperature of the Earth. Effects: Additional CO2 into the oceans lowering the pH Loss of sea life

How Have We Affected Earth's Atmosphere Human activities contribute to climate change by causing changes in Earth’s atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols (small particles), and cloudiness. The largest known contribution comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar radiation and out-going infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of Earth’s energy balance. Changing the atmospheric abundance or properties of these gases and particles can lead to a warming

Effects: Altering incoming solar radiation and out-going infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of Earth’s energy balance. Changing the atmospheric abundance or properties of these gases and particles can lead to a warming or cooling of the climate system. The human impact on climate greatly exceeds that due to known changes in natural processes, such as solar changes and volcanic eruptions.

Biosphere Humans affect the biosphere by: increasing air pollution damaging the ozone layer worsening global warming producing non-biodegradable waste causing deforestation. The combined effect of human activity results in the destruction of ecosystems

The Lorax https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA4k2E0ZzTk Video and flow chart 24:00

Human Impact Interactive http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/anthropocene-human-impact-environment Answer the questions while completing the interactive.